Getting to know your baby’s ‘NORMAL’

The statistics are heartbreaking and unfathomable. Each year, more than 2,500 babies are stillborn in Australia. That's six times every day a mother doesn't get to take her baby home. It is the leading cause of death of children under the age of 14 in this country, double the national road toll and 13 times more common than SIDS. While the causes of stillbirths are often unexplained, there are simple things everyone can do to help make a newborn's arrival a safe and healthy one. When her own daughter, Alfie, was taken from her in 2014 in the final week of her pregnancy, Adelaide mother Claire Foord knew she had to share ways to help prevent others going through the same heartbreak. Soon after, she established Still Aware, Australia's first charity dedicated to awareness and education about stillbirth.

Still Aware's advice is all about ‘getting to know your baby’.

"It's fun and easy and that's the best way to prevent stillbirth. And you don't need to buy anything for it," Claire says.

"Research has shown that monitoring a baby's movement can help prevent stillbirth and has reduced stillbirth by 50% in some countries. Sleeping on your side further reduces it by close to 10% so combine that, you have a far better chance than someone who doesn't have this information of keeping your baby safe."

 Get to know your baby’s strength, pattern and frequency of movement. Settle into a routine and make time every day to sit down and play with your baby. If there is any change in your baby’s movements, report it.

 Act now! Treat your baby as if it were out in the world. If something doesn’t feel right, don't wait until your next doctor's appointment to check.

 Use a Still Aware fridge magnet to remind you to get to know your baby. You might try a few things to work out who your baby is; touching your belly to see if baby responds, oral communication such as reading and playing music.

 Not all babies will be the same so it's not about comparing with others. It's what is normal for you and your baby that's most important.

 Sleeping on your side helps oxygen reach a growing baby. From 28 weeks (or before), get into the habit of falling asleep on your side, so the deepest and longest part of your slumber is in that position.

Know the facts! Babies don’t slow down before they are born. Having something sweet or cold to eat or drink does not help to get your baby moving. It is not about counting to 10, get to know your baby’s normal and stick to it.

For your free Still Aware magnet and empowering pregnancy information: stillaware.org